Horn accessory



G. A. LYON HORN ACCESSORY Oct. 10, 1939.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 22, 1937 61 502 c5 Hun-2T1 o/v.

0a. 10, 1939. G. A. LYO 2,175,207

HORN ACCESSORY Filed March 22, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 32 .VE UP Oct. 10, 1939. G. A. LYON 2,175,207

HORN ACCESSORY Filed March 22, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 10, 1939. 5N 2,175,207

HORN ACCESSORY Filed March 22, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 10, 1939 UNITED STATE/1S PATENT, OFFICE HORN ACCESSORY George AlbertLyon, Allenhurst, N. J.

Application March 22-, 1937, Serial No. 132,303 24 Claims. (o1. 74-484) 5 of the steering wheel of the assembly.

Many arrangements have, of course, been provided for facilitating operation of horn actuating mechanisms. At the present time most horn signalling switch devices are positioned on the steering wheel post at the center of the steering wheel, this being the most convenient and most easily accessible place for such devices. signalling devices are usually in the form of a small button which is adapted to be depressed manually to make the necessary electrical contact. In this type of signalling construction it is at once obvious that it is necessary for the driver to free one hand in order to depress the button to the desired extent. Since this is inconvenient, oftentimes undesirable, and occasionally dangerous, it is desirable to provide some auxiliary mechanism or structure which will permit operation or depression of the horn button without the driver removing his hands from the wheel.

Many arrangements have been employed in the past which permit blowing of the horn by operating the mechanism with the thumb of either hand while the hand remains on the steering wheel. The majority of these devices are not accessories for the ordinary horn button com monly found on motor vehicles, but is rather a construction which must be built into the steering wheel assembly at the factory before the motor vehicle is shipped out to the consumer. A few arrangements are known which may be mounted on the steering wheel assembly after the motor vehicle has once been built and shipped, but these mechanisms are relatively complex to assemble and are costly to manufacture. No arrangement is known in which an accessory is provided which will extend over the top of a horn button disposed on the upper side of the steering wheel and then downwardly beneath the spokes of the steering wheel. An arrangement of this type is particularly desirablebecause it does not obstruct in any way the upper sides of the steering wheel over which the hands and arms of the driver of the, motor ve- It is, therefore, an object of this invention to Such provide a novel horn member possessing the above highly desirable characteristics.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel horn member which is economical to manufacture, which may be easily assembled in desired position on the steering wheel assembly by the ordinary layman, and which is rugged and reliable in use.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel horn accessory having a central portion which extends over the horn button on the upper side of a steering wheel assembly and an outer ring-like portion which extends beneath the spokes of the steering wheel.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a novel horn accessory which may be detachably mounted on a steering wheel assembly and whichis arranged to be rocked about a point on the underside of one or more of the spokes of the steering wheel.

Another and further object of this invention is to provide a novel horn accessory having a central portion for engagement with a horn button, a plurality of outwardly extending arms, and a split ring portion detachably secured to the outer ends of the arms.

Another and still further object of this invention is toprovide a novel horn accessory having a central portion for engagement with the horn button of a steering wheel assembly and an outer ring portion made up of a plurality of separate arcuate segments.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel horn accessory having a central portion for engagement with a horn button on the upper side of a steering wheel assembly and an outer ring-like portion which is normally disposed in intimate contact with the underside of the spokes of the steering wheel about substantially half of the cross-sectional configuration of these spokes.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and manner of construction, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompany drawings, in which: Figure 1 is'a plan view of a steering wheel and a horn accessory embodying certain of the novel features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational View partly in cross section taken along the line II--II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the underside of the horn accessory illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 but shows the horn accessory mounted in a slightly different relationship with respect to the steering wheel;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view partly in cross section of a difierent embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIVI of Figure 5 and shows=the cooperating relationship of the outer portion of the horn accessory with respect to the spokes of the steering wheel;

Figure '7 is a plan View of a steering Wheel and a horn accessory showing a further embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 8 is an elevational view partly in cross section taken along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7 Figure 9 is an elevational view partly in cross section taken along the line IX-IX of Figure '7, and shows the cooperating relationship of the outer portion of the horn accessory with respect to the spokes of the steering wheel;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating a further form of the present invention;

Figure 11 is an elevational partly in cross section of another form of the present invention;

Figure 12 is a plan view of the outer ring member and arm of the horn accessory shown in Figure 11; and

Figure 13 is a plan View of the central member of the horn accessory shown in Figure 11.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in. Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, I have shown therein a steering wheel I of the type commonly known to the automobile industry as a banjo wheel. More particularly a steering wheel I includes in general a central hub portion 2, a plurality of radial spoke arms 3, and a rim 4. As may be seen in Figure 1 of the drawings, each spoke or spoke arm 3 of the steering wheel I is made of a number of relatively small rods 5 which are maintained in spaced relationship with respect to each other by means of a spacer clip 6. The hub andrim parts 2 and 4 of steering wheel I may be formed of hard rubber, some suitable resinous condensation product, or any other suitable material. When hub 2 of steering wheel I is formed of a material other than metal, it is provided with an inner metallic hub I which is permanently formed therein. Although not shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that this inner huh I is of the type almost universally employed in the automobile industry and includes a central aperture which extends over the steering rod of the steering wheel assembly and is also provided with suitable apertures on either side of the central aperture to permit the horn blowing mechanism actuating prongs 8 and 9 to extend therethrough. Actuating prongs 8 and 9 are preferably flattened at their lower extremities as at Ill and II for engagement with the switch mechanism of the horn blowing equipment. The upper ends of prongs 8 and 9 are secured to the horn button I2.

Although a specific type of steering wheel assembly has been described above, itis, of course, to be understood that the particular shape and configuration and structural details of thesteering wheel assembly may vary through wide limits without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, and is only described'as being of a form to which the novel horn accessory presently to be described may readily be associated with.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention a novel horn blowing accessory I3 for actuating the horn button or horn blowing member I2 is arranged to be detachably mounted on the steering wheel assembly. Horn accessory I3 includes a central hub portion I4, a plurality of radially extending arms I5, and an outer rim I6. Central hub portion I4 may be either in the form of a ring-like shell which is open at the center to permit whateverornamentation has been provided for the upper sideof horn button l2 to remain exposed to view, or it may be a disk-like portion (not shown) which completely covers the upper side of horn button I2. As shown in the drawings, central hub portion I4 has a downwardly extending outer marginal edge I! which permits the central hub portion I4 to snugly fit over the horn button I2, thereby to detachably secure the horn accessory I3 to the steering Wheel assembly.

As will be at once apparent to those skilled in the art, in order to provide a horn accessory which will extend over the horn button and yet under the spokes of the steering wheel it is necessary to provide some arrangement by which the outer portion of the horn accessory I3 may be disengaged from the central portion thereof. One arrangement which has been found highly satisfactory is to provide the outer ends of arms I5 with a curled clip member I8, which has an inwardly facing groove I9 into which the ring I6 may be snapped. Clips I8 are preferably formed of a resilient material in order that the ring I6 may be firmly and securely held within the grooves I9. In order that it will not be necessary to remove steering wheel I from the steering post (not shown), ring I6 is split as at 26. It will thus be apparent that the ring I6 may be sprung around the steering post (not shown) and then the central member of the horn accessory I3 which includes hub portion I4 and arm I5 may be disposed over the top of horn button I2. Thereafter ring I6 may be snapped into grooves I9 of clips I8, the split portion 26 of ring I6 being disposed within one of the clips I8, and the horn accessory is completely assembled in desired position on the steering wheel.

As is shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, ring I6 of horn accessory I3 in its normal assembled position is disposed against the lower surfaces of spoke arms 3 of steering wheel I. Thus when it is desired to operate horn button I2 while the hands of the driver remain on the rim 4 of steering wheel I, it is simply necessary to depress any portion of ring I6 with the thumb of the hand. Downward depression of any part of ring I6 causes the horn accessory l3 to be rocked or fulcrum about a point or points located on the underside of one or more of the spoke arms respectively. This lever action of the horn accessory I3 causes a suiiicient depression of the horn button I2 to close the switch mechanism of the horn energizing circuit (not shown) through the actuating prongs 8 and 9.

- In Figure 4 of the drawings a horn accessory 2| is shown which is similar in every respect to the horn accessory I3 illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings with the exception that the hand engaging rim or ring I6 thereof is arranged for disposition a substantial distance below the undersurface of spoke arms 3. The horn accessory 2| is mounted on the steering wheel assembly in precisely the same manner as that described in connection with the horn accessory I3 in Figof radial arms 31.

ures 1 to 3, but its modus operandi is different. Since no part of ring I6 is in engagement with spoke arms 3, it is apparent that as downward pressure is applied at some point on ring [6 the horn accessory 2! will rock about the horn button l2. This, in a manner well known to those skilled in the art, will also effect operation of the horn (not shown) of the vehicle. Although this arrangement requires a slightly greater depressing force to effect operation of the horn button l2, it has been found highly desirable under certain circumstances since there is no direct contact between any part of the horn accessory and the steering wheel I, and particularly with the spokes 3 of the steering wheel.

In Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, a different embodiment of my invention is illustrated, and it is shown as being arranged for disposition on a steering wheel 22 of the type commonly employed as standard equipment on automotive vehicles of the present day. Steering wheel 22 includes in general a central hub portion 23, a plurality of spokes 24 (which preferably have a solid cross-sectional configuration), and a rim 25. Hub portion 23 has an inner metallic hub 26 formed therein in the manner and for the purpose described in connection with Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings.

The upper end of hub 23 is recessed as at 21 to permit mounting therein of the horn actuating button 28 and its associated mechanism. This associated horn actuating mechanism includes in general a resilient ring member 29 which is preferably composed of flexible rubber or some other suitable resilient material and the switch con necting member 30, the upper end of which is secured in a groove 3| on the inner surface of ring 29. The portion of member 39 which connects with the switch mechanism of the horn energizing circuit (not shown) includes a pair of prongs 32 and 33 which extend downwardly through complementary apertures in inner hub 26. It is to be understood that downward depression of horn button 28 through the application of pressure at any point on the upper surface thereof will effect operation of the horn. In order to ornament the exterior end of recess 21 of hub 23 and to prevent relatively large foreign particles from falling into this recess when no horn accessory is used, a collar 34 is usually provided therefor.

As was described in connection with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the horn accessory 35 includes in general a central portion 36, a plurality of radial arms 31, and an outer circular portion 38. The central portion 36 in general is similar to that shown in Figures 2 and 3 and includes a downwardly extending outer marginal edge 39 which extends about the outer edge of horn button 28. Furthermore central portion 36 is preferably in the form of a ring, the inner edge of which engages the upper surface of horn button 28.

This embodiment of the invention differs chiefly from the preferred embodiment in the nature and character of the outer portion of the horn accessory. More particularly ring portion 38 is split in a plurality of places, and preferably at points directly opposite the lowermost points of each spoke beneath which the ring portion 38 passes, as is shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. Ring portion 38 thus comprises a plurality of arcuate segments 41!, 4|, etc. Each arcuate segment 4!), 4|, etc., is directly secured to the ends The ends 42 of segments 49,

4|, etc., are preferably bent to extend in intimate contact about a substantial portion of the periphery of the spoke arms 24' with which they engage, as is shown in Figure 6.

Due to the fact that the outer ring portion 38 of the horn accessory 35 is split at a plurality of places, it is obvious that it is not necessary to make ring portion 38 detachable from arms 31 or from central portion 36, for the various segments 4!), 4|, etc.,. may be sprung under spokes 24 by pulling ends 42 of segments 40, 4!, etc., apart. As will be at once apparent to those skilled in the art, downward depression of any one of the segments 4!), 4!, etc., will effect operation of horn button 28.

' In Figures '7, 8, and 9 of the drawings a modification of the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings is shown which is particularly applicable to a steering wheel of the standard type, such for example as referred to in connection with the discussion of Figures 5 and 6. For simplicity of illustration, similar elements and portions of the steering wheel assembly which corresponds to similar elements of the steering wheel assem bly shown in Figure 5 of the drawings have been given the same reference numerals. The horn accessory 43 of this modification of the invention includes a central portion 44, a plurality of radial arms 45, and anouter circular portion 46. Secured to the underside of central portion 44 is a hat-shaped horn button attaching element 4?. The outer marginal edge 48 of the hat-shaped element 4'! is preferably turned down as is illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings to snugly extend about the outer edge of the horn button 28.

p This modification of the invention differs chief ly from the preferred embodiment in the nature and character of the outer portion of the horn accessory 43. More particularly, the ring portion 46 which isadapted to be snapped into the recesses provided by the underturned outer end 49. of theradial arms 45 is bent opposite each spoke arm 24 of wheel 22 to snugly fit the underside of these spoke arms 24 as is illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings. Ring 48 is split as at 5B in order to permit the horn accessory 43 to be readily. and quickly mounted and dismounted on the steering wheel assembly without removing the steering wheel 22 from the steering rod (not shown) on which it is mounted.

Radial arms 45 of horn accessory 43 are illustrated in this form of the invention as being formed of sheet material, and in order to provide sufiicient rigidity in these arms, ribs 5i may be formed therein in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. By forming arms 45 in this manner, itis possible to manually bend these arms after the accessory is mounted on the steering wheel assembly to adjust the tension with which the split ring 46 bears against the underside of spoke arms 24.

The operation of this form of the invention is precisely similar to that described in connection with the preferred embodiment of the invention. One of the primary advantages of this form of the invention lies in the fact that the entire horn button accessory unit lies substantially inthe plane of the wheel.

A further modification of the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings is shown in Figure 10. On the outer end of each radial arm 55 of horn accessory IS a fastening head or element 52 is provided adapted to'receive the inturned ends 53 of segmental sections 54.

Segmental sections 54 are preferably formed of resilient material so that they will remain firmly engaged in heads 52 of arms l5 by their own inherent resiliency. Thus, to assemble segmental sections 54 in desired position on the outer ends of arms l5 of ornamental accessory l3, it is simply necessary to slip one end 53 of a segmental section 54 into its complementary recess in head 52 of one of the arms 15 and then swing the opposite end 53 of the same segmental section up into close proximity to its complementary engaging arm l5 and finally pull outwardly on the latter and snap it into its complementary recess. It is to be understood that in this form of the invention the outer ring of the horn accessory l3 which is adapted to be manually actuated to effect operation of the horn blowing mechanism is made up of a plurality of segmental sections 54, which eX- tend under the spoke arms 3 of steering wheel I.

The manner in which the ornamental accessory shown in Figure 10 effects operation of the hornblowing mechanism is precisely similar to that described in connection with the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings.

In Figures 11, 12, and 13, of the drawings a further modification of the invention is illustrated wherein the radial arms of the horn accessory are secured to the outer ring member of the horn accessory rather than to the central hub section of the horn accessory, as has been described in connection with the previous forms of the invention. The steering wheel illustrated in Figure 11 is similar to the steering wheel illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and for that reason has been given the same reference numerals. The horn accessory 55 of this form of the invention includes a central portion 58 which fits snugly over the top of the horn button I2 and an outer split ring portion 51 which is provided with a plurality of radially inwardly extending arms 58 which are preferably permanently secured thereon. The inner end of each arm 58 is provided with two apertures 59 as may be seen best in Figure 12. The ends 58 and BI of the split ring 51 are normally held together by means of a detachable connecting sleeve 62.

The central member 56 of horn accessory 55 is provided with a plurality of pairs of attaching fingers 63 and 54 which pairs correspond in number to the number of radial arms 58 on split ring 51. Attaching fingers 63 and 64 extend sharply downwardly as is shown in Figure 11 between the rods 5 which make up the spoke arm 3 of the steering wheel I and then radially outwardly into engagement with the apertures 59 of arms 58. It will thus be understood that this provides a simple and effective method for detachably connecting the outer portion of the horn accessory 55 which is disposed below the spoke arm 3 of the steering wheel I to the central portion 56 which is mounted on the top of the horn button l2. Ring 57 may either be arranged for disposition in spaced relationship with spoke arms 3 as is shown in Figure 11, or it may, if desired, be normally disposed in intimate contact with the underside of the spoke arms 3 in the manner described in connection with the split ring 15 of Figures 1 to 3.

From the above description it will be at once apparent that I have provided an extraordinarily simple and yet effective horn accessory or horn auxiliary member for steering wheel assemblies. Although in the embodiment of the invention described above the auxiliary member has been described as being an accessory which may s and conveniently be mounted on a steering whee assembly without removing the steering wheel, it is obvious that an auxiliary member of a more permanent character such for as example as by utilizing a solid outer ring which may be mounted at the factory before the steering wheel is assembled in desired position on the car may be provided without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

While I have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it will, of course, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination comprising a steering member including a rim and a hub, a depressible horn blowing member centrally'mounted on the upper side of said hub, and an accessory for actuating said horn blowing member, said accessory having a central portion disposed over said horn blowing member and an operating ring disposed beneath the plane of the rim of said steering member.

2. The combination comprising a steering member having a central hub portion and spokes extending substantially radially therefrom, a depressible horn blowing member mounted within said hub portion and accessible for operation from the upper side of steering member, and an accessory for actuating said horn blowing member, said accessory having a central portion adapted to engage said horn blowing member and an actuating ring disposed below said spokes.

3. The combination comprising a spoked steering wheel, a horn button mounted thereon and accessible from the upper side thereof, and a horn blower accessory extending over said button and including a ring extending under the spokes of said steering wheel.

4. The combination comprising a spoked steering wheel, a horn button mounted thereon and accessible from the upper side thereof, and a horn blower accessory seemed to said button and carried thereby and including an annular hand engaging portion disposed below the spokes of said steering wheel.

5. The combination comprising a steering column, a spoked steering wheel, a horn button mounted thereon and accessible from the upper side thereof, and a horn blower accessory including a central button engaging portion, a plurality of radially extending arms, and a rim, said rim forming a complete ring extending around said steering column beneath the spokes of said steering wheel.

6. The combination comprising a spoked steering wheel, a horn button mounted thereon and accessible from the upper side thereof, and a horn blower accessory including a central horn button engaging portion, a plurality of radially extending arms, a detachable split ring, and means for detachably engaging the outer extremities of the arms of said accessory to said ring.

'7. As an article of manufacture for a steering Wheel having on the top side thereof a centrally disposed horn button, a horn button accessory comprising a central hub portion arranged to engage said horn button, a plurality of arms extending outwardly from said hub portion, and a plurality of separate arcuate segments secured to the outer ends of said arms, said accessory including means for detachably retainingsaid accessory on said steering whe 1v 8. As an article of manufacture; for a spoked steering wheel havingon the top s'idethereof a centrally disposed horn button, a horn button accessory comprising a central portion'arranged to engage said horn button, a plurality of arms extending outwardly from said central portion, and a ring portion adapted to be manually depressed to effect operation of said horn button, said ring being split to form a plurality of separate segments corresponding in numberto the number of spokes on'said steering wheel, said accessory including means for detachably retaining said accessory on said steering wheel. 9. As an article of manufacture for a spoke steering wheel having on the top side thereof a centrally disposed horn button, a horn button accessory comprising a-central portion arranged to engage said horn button, a plurality of arms.

extending outwardly from said central portion, and a ring portion adapted to be manually depressed to effect operation ofsaid horn button,

said ring being adapted to be disposed beneath and in intimate engagement with the underside of the spokes of said steering wheel, said ring also being split at the points thereon at which it is adapted to engage the spokes of said steering wheel.

10. As an article of manufacture for a spoked steering wheel having on the top side thereof a centrally disposed horn button, a horn button accessory comprising a central member for engagement with said horn button having a plurality of outwardly extending arms, and an outer ring member having a plurality of radially inwardly extending arms detachably secured to said first arms, said accessory including means for detachably retaining said accessory on said steering wheel.

11. As an article of manufacture for a spoked steering wheel having on the top side thereof a centrally disposed horn button, a horn button accessory comprising a central member arranged to be detachably secured to said horn button having a plurality of outwardly extending arms, and an outer ring member having a plurality of radially inwardly extending arms detachably secured to said first arms.

12. As an article of manufacture for a steering wheel having on the top side thereof a centrally disposed horn button, a horn button accessory comprising a central hub portion arranged to engage said horn button, a plurality of arms extending outwardly from said hub portion, and a plurality of separate arcuate segments extending between said arms, the ends of each of said segments being bent radially inwardly into detachable engagement with the outer ends of said arms, said accessory including means for detachably retaining said accessory on said steering wheel.

13. As an article of manufacture for a steering wheel having on the top side thereof a centrally disposed horn button, a horn button accessory comprising a central hub portion arranged to engage said horn button, a plurality of arms extending outwardly from said hub portion, and a plurality of separate arcuate segments. extending between said arms, the ends of said segments being bent radially inwardly and the outer ends of said arms having female connecting portions thereon for receiving the inturned ends of said segments, said segments being retained in position on said arms by their own inherent resiliency.

5 14. The combination comprising a spoked steering wheel, a hornbutton mounted thereon and accessible from the upper sidethereof, and a horn blower accessory including a, central portion secured tosaid horn button, and an outer ring portion disposed beneath and in spaced relationship to the spokes of said steering wheel.

15. The combination comprising a spoked steering wheel, a circuit closing member mounted thereon and accessible from theupper side thereof, and an auxiliary member for actuating said circuit closing member, said auxiliary member including a central portion extending over said circuit closing member and an outer ring portion extending below the spokes of said steering wheel.

16. As an article of manufacture for a steering Wheel having on the top side thereof a centrally disposed depressible ,circuit closing element, an auxiliary actuating member for said element comprising a central portion for'disposition over said element having a plurality of radially extending arms, said arms having inturned outer ends forming inwardly-facing recesses, and a resilient split ring adapted to be snapped into securing engagement in said recessesand retained solely thereby. V

17. As an article of manufacture for a steering wheel having on the top side thereof a centrally disposed depressible circuit closing element, an auxiliary actuating member for said element comprising a central hub portion detachably secured to said element having a plurality of radially extending arms, and a plurality of separate segmental sections secured to the outer end of said arms, whereby depression of any one of said segmental sections will effect operation of said circuit closing element.

18. As an article of manufacture for a spoked steering wheel having on the top side thereof a centrally disposed depressible circuit closing element, an auxiliary actuating member for said element comprising a central portion disposed over saidelement and in engagement therewith, a plurality of radially extending arms on said central portion, and an outer split ring detachably secured to the outer end of said arm, said ring being bent in a plurality of places to form portions therein for nesting said ring about the spokes of said steering wheel, whereby said auxiliary actuating member in its assembled position on said steering wheel lies substantially in the plane of the latter.

19. As an article of manufacture for a steering wheel assembly having a steering member including a rim, and a depressible horn blowing member centrally mounted therewith, an accessory for actuating said horn blowing member comprising a central portion disposed over said horn blowing member and an operating ring rigidly connected to said central portion and disposed beneath the plane of the rim of said steering member.

20. As an article of manufacture for use on a spoked steering wheel having a horn button mounted thereon and accessible from the upper side thereof, a horn blower accessory having a central portion arranged to be disposed over said button and an annular peripheral portion arranged to be disposed under the spokes of said steering wheel, said accessory being carried by said horn button.

21. In a horn button control adapted to be attached to a steering wheel having a hub, spokes, a rim and a horn button exposed upwardly on said hub, and spring pressed axially upwardly therefrom, the combination of: a button depressing means adapted to lie against said horn button to be yieldably heldrupwardly by said button out of button. depressing position; and hold downengagement with said complete annular element of fingers of a. hand [resting upon said steering wheel rim.

22. In ahornbutton control adapted to be,

attached to av steering wheel having; a hub,

spokes, a rim and a horn buttonon said hub, springpressed axially upwardly therefrom, the

combination of: a split ring adapted to be extended about the steering post on which said wheel is. mounted, said. ring being-smaller in diameter thanflsaid rim, and means provided on said ring andadaptedfto overlieand engagesaid;

horn button, said means including; means for connecting, the ends of the ringtogether, whereby said ring is adaptedto bedisposed beneath and maintained rstingupwardly against said spokes.

23.,In a horn-button controladapted to be at-' tached to a steering wheel, havingahub, spokes, a rim) and a; horn button on said hub, spring pressedupwardlytherefrom, the combination of: a split. ring; biased to'expand to separate its free ends a substantialdistance; a horn button depressing member 2 means on said member which are adapted to trap said ring at a plurality of points and restrict said ring against said tendency of the latter to expand and thereby effect a relatively permanent assembly of said ring and said memberon said wheel.

24. In a horn button control adapted to be attached to a steering wheel mounted on a steering post and having a hub, spokes, a rim and a horn button on said hub spring-pressed axially upward therefrom, the combination of: a ringadapted to encircle said steering post,,said ring being smaller in diameter than said rimand being split at at least onev poi-nt, and means adapted to overlieand-engage said horn button, said means including means for supporting said ring beneath andresting upwardly against said spokes and for normallyholding the-ends of said ring together;

GEORGE ALBERT LYON. 

